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Tarkine Rainforest Track
Summary
Tour Difficulty
Average distance – 7-8kms a day. The trail has been created and tagged by our business and is located in a very remote and wild area. The trails winds its way through mostly open rainforest and the ground is soft and bouncy underfoot. There are very few sections of mud and these sections are no deeper than a walking boot. There are many small creek crossings, some of which require sandals to ensure you do not get wet boots.
The bulk of the walk is on a forest plateau that has small but regular undulating hills. The ascent to the plateau occurs on day one and two. The ascent is gradual for the most part with several steep slippery sections.
The final day’s walk is when we negotiate the river crossings and the walk ends on an old forestry trail. There are two river crossings, the Keith and the Arthur, which require sandals and will be safely coordinated by your guides. During the summer months, the river crossings are not deep or dangerous and can be safely negotiated under the watchful eye of your guides. See the detailed trip grading by opening up the itinerary PDF below.
See above for breakdown of days and activities. Also refer to the Tarkine Explorer Itinerary PDF by using the link below.
Accomodation
We use large roomy tents from Mountain Equipment Co-op from Canada, one of the few ethical bushwalking gear manufacturers. Single tents are used when we have uneven group numbers.
2010/ 11
$1,799 per person
Seasons run from Oct to May
Use the headings to the left to view additional details on this tour.
Day one
Highlights
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Rafting across the Arthur River, the northern boundary of the Tarkine.
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Escaping the concrete jungle and into the real one.
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Entering the green room, the Tarkine’s old growth forests!
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Camp alongside the pristine Mystery Creek with a glass of red.
We pick you up at your accommodation and drive to Burnie for lunch and a gear check. We then head south to the track head. We arrive at around 2pm alongside the banks of the gorgeous Arthur River running wild and free, ahhhh how’s the serenity! We cross the Arthur River in a small raft, a wonderful way to begin our walk. Starting our walk along an old forestry trail, we head up to a ridge from where we descend into a valley toward camp. We follow a moss covered, overgrown trail down into the valley for 1.5 hours before disappearing into the lush old-growth rain forest. Camp is located on the banks of Mystery Creek.
Day two
Highlights
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Meandering along the small forest trail.
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Giant Eucalypt forest as we ascend toward the pure rainforest plateau.
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Encounter with fresh water burrowing crayfish
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Arrival at the rainforest plateau for camp, amongst giant old growth open forest.
After breakfast, we continue deeper into the forest, meandering alongside Mystery Creek. The small tagged trail snakes its way through an energising green landscape. We make our way up a ridge, surrounded by giant Eucalyptus Oblique, or Stringy Barks. These sentinels of the forest are amongst the tallest hardwood trees in the world, simply awesome. After lunch, the forest changes and we meet groves of musk trees under a canopy of ancient Myrtles and Sassafras. The ridge gradually ascends to a soil rich plateau that provides the necessary fertility for the exceptional forest we experience over the following three days. It is at the beginning of this plateau that we make camp and you kick back and relax while your guides prepare a fabulous feast
Day three
Highlights
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The simple joy of walking through this beautiful forest
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Valley of giant tree ferns, simply amazing
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Stopping to drink pure water from pristine wild streams
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Hearing the tumble of Tarkine Falls as we approach camp
We walk through to Tarkine Falls camp. On route, we pass through a forest we’ve called the Octopuses garden. The Myrtles here lift up beyond the soil and stand on their roots, giving them the appearance of octopuses walking the land. After crossing a number of pristine streams, we come across the Shrine. The Shrine is a Zen-like waterfall that cascades off the edge of a plateau, creating an energising and invigorating place to stop for lunch. Before arriving at camp, we strike a patch of the infamous Horizontal forest of Tasmania. These horizontal trees have evolved to maximize light exposure by growing horizontally along the forest floor. On arrival at camp, you can take a quick dip under the refreshing waters of Tarkine Falls. Tarkine Falls is a gorgeous 15m waterfall that cascades over columns of black basalt rock.
Day four
Highlights
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Walking with a day pack to panoramic views from our button grass lookout
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Soaking up the 360 degree view.
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A tasty lunch above the Forest canopy.
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Second night at Tarkine Falls.
Today, you choose, laze around camp and bathe beneath Tarkine Falls, or join us for a day walk to a button grass peak for panoramic forest views. From camp the walk ascends through gorgeous open rainforest. Walking with just a day pack means we stop regularly to admire the small details in the forest, the fungi, the lichens and the bird life. It also means there’s time to play, walking across fallen logs and climbing old tree stumps is a lot of fun. From atop the peak we get a 360 degree view of the Tarkine. To the North, valley after valley of pristine rain forest rolls out to the horizon, to the south lays the great expanse of rainforest that has made the Tarkine internationally significant as a remnant, Gondwanan forest sanctuary. After lunch, we head back to camp for another night at Tarkine Falls.
Day five
Highlights
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Continuing along the forest trail
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Giant forests, pristine creeks
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Arriving at Heaven, a gorgeous waterhole in the middle of the forest
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Swimming in Heaven or relaxing on the side of the pool
We depart Tarkine Falls and make our way through the forest toward our final camp. Today’s walk is another fine example of stunning open forest, pristine creeks and hidden forest treasures. The route follows Waterfall Creek, before arriving at Heaven for lunch. Heaven is a pristine swimming hole surrounded by cascading waterfalls. This beautiful natural monument provides a remarkable backdrop for lunch and an opportunity for basking around the natural pool. The bank on the side of the pool is perfectly north facing meaning that heaven is bathed in sun for the entire time we’re there. This northerly aspect also means that heaven has its own unique ecosystem, including the beautiful bird orchid that grows along the banks of the waterhole. Heaven’s just great, and the best part is there’s no test or anything like that to get in! From heaven, we walk another hour to our last camp.
Day six
Highlights
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The final stretch of old growth
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Crossing the Lyons and Arthur Rivers
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Refreshing swim in the Arthur River
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BBQ lunch on the bank before departing.
Our tour of Tasmania’s Tarkine forest concludes as we make our way out of the old growth and toward an old forestry trail. Once on this trail, we walk until we cross the Lyons and then the Arthur River. The Arthur River is the perfect place to finish the walk. It’s forested banks and shallow waters mean that a refreshing swim is definitely on the cards for those bold enough. On a sunny day, it’s proven to be irresistible, even the faint hearted jump in. On the other side of the river, we are greeted by a Barbeque lunch of sausages, veggie burgers, fresh breads, cheeses, fruit and condiments… mmm! We depart the Tarkine at approximately 3.00pm and say goodbye to one of the world’s great natural treasures.
View information about our Tarkine Explorer walking tour here
View information about our Wild Tarkine Coast walking tour here
View information about our Overland Track walking tour here
View information about our Specialist walking tours here
View information about our Devil Project here
Read testimonials from Tarkine Trails customers here
Your exclusive access deep into the temperate rainforest of the Tarkine
The Tarkine Experts – In the hands of the Tarkines Pioneers
• The first business to run multi day guided bushwalks in the Tarkine Rainforest (operating since 2002)
• We rarely see another walker on this trip, you’ll have the beauty and wonder of the place to yourself
• After 6 days you will be refreshed and relaxed
• The only multi day temperate rainforest walk in Australia
Your opportunity to be part of of the Tarkine Devil Project.
By coming on this tour you will be supporting the project in the following ways:
• You will be ensuring our business will be able to continue contributing our time and money to the Tarkine Devil Project. This will ensure that the project continues well beyond the term of the initial funding.
• On your Tarkine Explorer tour you will be directly involved in the project as you assist in the collection of data recorded on the motion sensor cameras. You will also be the first to see photos of any Tasmanian Devil activity that has occurred since the last time the cameras were checked.
For more information see the Tarkine Devil Project Page.
Hear from those people who’ve experienced it.
These quotes have been takes from clients feedback forms and are generally the answer to the question “what did you like best about this trip?”
• Isolation and beauty – the fact it is so pristine and untouched by man
• Everything – the forest, rivers, trees, moss mushrooms. amber coloured water. It is my favourite place in the world!
• Peace and serenity of the rainforest, loved the myrtles & the antarctica dicksonia ferns, the pristine environment. Chris and Ash as guides were excellent
• Seeing the forest in the company of knowledgeable Tasmanians. The day walk without a pack was another plus.
• It has offered me a glimpse of how simple life can be. Total reduction of what is necessary to live and I hope to incorporate that even more into my life. And then there is the shear staggering beauty and intricacy of the Tarkine…this experience is exactly what I crave in my life. Thank you thank you thank you!
• The silent walk on day 6, the sense of being away from the rest of the world.
• The guides really made the trip. We’d all do another trip just to go with them. The forest was so magnificent it almost makes you speechless. It was a brilliant family holiday. The food was fantastic.
Whats included on the trip
• All meals including snacks from lunch on day one to lunch on day six.
• All group camping equipment including all first aid and safety gear (rental gear available for some personal items – see detailed itinerary for more information).
• Experienced and professional guides with a passion for Tasmania’s wild places.
• Transport from and back to your accommodation (refer notes on pick up points and drop off points above to ensure you are within range).
• Entry fees to National Parks/reserves/tours/ferries.
Not Included
• Accommodation prior to the start or at the end of the tour
• Flights
• Breakfast on morning 1 and dinner on day 6
Our passion for an integrated approach to sustainability..
The environmental policy of all our eco tours fall out of our love and respect for the natural world and that we look beyond what is simply “good for us” when making decisions that impact the environment. That we give voice to environmental injustice when we see it and work creatively toward win-win solutions that protect the environment for the benefit of people today and future generations. Specific outcomes of this environmental policy for our eco tours include:
• A policy of “Maximum Respect Bush walking ” which embraces and develops upon the philosophy of minimal impact walking. This idea encourages us to recognise that we are a part of the natural environment and as such damage to “it” is damage ultimately to us.
• Offering organic food (where possible) with minimal and reusable packaging.
• Each year we offset the emissions (fuel, travel and electricity) our business creates by paying climate friendly to invest in the renewable energy industry. Rather than try to offset the carbon emissions from food we have a policy of buying as much of our food & wine from local suppliers and growers as well as buying organic where possible.
• Use 100%, post consumer waste recycled paper for all our office paper needs.
The Heart of the Tarkine
On the Tarkine Rainforest Track we will take you deeper into the Tarkine’s temperate rainforest than anyone else. The Tarkine Rainforest Track goes through the Northern part of the Savage River Rainforest Corridor, an area that is considered the heart of the Tarkine.
• See temperate rainforest that has been untouched by fire for hundreds of years
• It is part of the largest patch of temperate rainforest in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Experience “deep rainforest immersion” in natures green room
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